Systems, methods, and media for capsule-based multimode endoscopy

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, methods, and media for capsule-based multimode endoscopy are provided. In some embodiments, a probe for capsule-based multimode endoscopy is provided, the probe comprising: a rigid capsule; a flexible tether coupled to a proximal end of the capsule; a rotatable reflective surface disposed within the capsule; a static ball lens disposed within the capsule; a first optical fiber optically coupled to the ball lens, the first optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; a second optical fiber optically coupled to the ball lens, the second optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; a graded index fiber disposed between a distal end of the second optical fiber and the ball lens, the graded index fiber optically coupled to the second optical fiber and the ball lens.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A probe, comprising:
 a rigid capsule; 
 a flexible tether coupled to a proximal end of the capsule; 
 a rotatable reflective surface disposed within the capsule; 
 a static lens disposed within the capsule; 
 a first optical fiber optically coupled to the static lens,
 the first optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; 
 
 a second optical fiber optically coupled to the static lens,
 the second optical fiber passing through the flexible tether, and 
 the static lens, the first optical fiber, and the second optical fiber being configured such that first light emitted from the first optical fiber through the static lens comprises a first focal length and second light emitted from the second optical fiber through the static lens comprises a second focal length substantially equivalent to the first focal length; and 
 
 a second lens disposed between a distal end of the second optical fiber and the static lens and not disposed between the first optical fiber and the static lens,
 the second lens being optically coupled to the second optical fiber and the static lens. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer disposed between the static lens and the second lens. 
     
     
       3. The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable reflective surface is configured to receive light emitted by the static lens and direct the light toward a circumference of the rigid capsule. 
     
     
       4. The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical fiber is a single mode fiber that is configured to be optically coupled to an optical coherence tomography imaging system. 
     
     
       5. The probe of  claim 4 , wherein the second optical fiber is a dual clad fiber that is configured to be optically coupled to a visible light imaging system. 
     
     
       6. The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor that is mechanically coupled to the rotatable reflective surface and configured to rotate the rotatable reflective surface. 
     
     
       7. The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical fiber is adjacent and parallel to the second optical fiber, and
 wherein the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are configured to couple to separate imaging systems. 
 
     
     
       8. The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the static lens comprises a ball lens. 
     
     
       9. The probe of  claim 8 , wherein the ball lens has an axial diameter of between 0.1 and 5 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
       10. The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the second lens comprises a graded index fiber. 
     
     
       11. The probe of  claim 10 , wherein the graded index fiber has a length of between 100 and 1,000 micrometers (μm). 
     
     
       12. The probe of  claim 1 , wherein a first electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first optical fiber is transmitted through the static lens to a sample, and
 wherein a second electromagnetic radiation received from the sample is transmitted through the static lens and the second lens into the second optical fiber. 
 
     
     
       13. The probe of  claim 1 , wherein a first electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first optical fiber is transmitted through the static lens to a sample, and
 wherein a second electromagnetic radiation emitted from the second optical fiber is transmitted through the second lens and the static lens. 
 
     
     
       14. A system for capsule-based multimode endoscopy, comprising:
 a visible light imaging system comprising:
 a visible light source; and 
 a visible light detector; 
 
 an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system comprising:
 an OCT light source; 
 an OCT detector; 
 a sample arm optically coupled to the OCT light source and the OCT detector; and 
 a reference arm optically coupled to the OCT light source and the OCT detector, the reference arm comprising a reference reflector; and 
 
 a probe comprising:
 a rigid capsule; 
 a flexible tether coupled to a proximal end of the capsule; 
 a rotatable reflective surface disposed within the capsule; 
 a first lens disposed within the capsule; 
 a first optical fiber optically coupled to the first lens and the sample arm of the OCT imaging system,
 the first optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; 
 
 a second optical fiber optically coupled to the first lens and the visible light imaging system, the second optical fiber passing through the flexible tether,
 the first lens, the first optical fiber, and the second optical fiber being configured such that first light emitted from the first optical fiber through the first lens comprises a first focal length and second light emitted from the second optical fiber through the first lens comprises a second focal length substantially equivalent to the first focal length; and 
 
 a second lens disposed between a distal end of the second optical fiber and the first lens and not disposed between the first optical fiber and the first lens,
 the second lens being optically coupled to the second optical fiber and the first lens. 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the probe further comprises a spacer disposed between the first lens and the second lens. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one processor that is programmed to:
 cause the rotatable reflective surface to rotate; 
 cause the OCT light source to emit light toward the rotatable reflective surface via the first optical fiber; 
 cause the visible light source to emit light toward the rotatable reflective surface via the second optical fiber; 
 generate OCT data based on an interference between light reflected from a sample and light reflected from the reference reflector; 
 generate visible light image data based on light reflected from a surface of the sample; and 
 cause an image representing a first portion of the sample based on the OCT data to be presented simultaneously with an image representing the first portion of the sample based on the visible light image data. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the rotatable reflective surface is configured to receive light emitted by the first lens and direct the light toward a circumference of the rigid capsule. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first optical fiber is a single mode fiber. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second optical fiber is a dual clad fiber, and wherein a core of the dual clad fiber is optically coupled to the visible light source and a cladding of the dual clad fiber is optically coupled to the visible light detector. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the probe further comprises a motor that is mechanically coupled to the rotatable reflective surface and configured to rotate the rotatable reflective surface. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first optical fiber or the second optical fiber is disposed off of a central axis of the first lens. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first optical fiber is disposed on a central axis of the first lens and the second optical fiber is disposed off of the central axis of the first lens. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first lens comprises a ball lens. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the ball lens has an axial diameter of between 0.1 and 5 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second lens comprises a graded index fiber. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein the graded index fiber has a length of between 100 and 1,000 micrometers (μm). 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 14 , wherein a first electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first optical fiber is transmitted through the first lens to a sample, and
 wherein a second electromagnetic radiation received from the sample is transmitted through the first lens and the second lens into the second optical fiber. 
 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 14 , wherein a first electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first optical fiber is transmitted through the first lens to a sample, and wherein a second electromagnetic radiation emitted from the second optical fiber is transmitted through the second lens and the first lens.